Papua New Guinea’s influential oil minister Jimmy Maradina has been charged with assault over an alleged “domestic dispute” in Australia, court documents show.
Police said a 31-year-old woman was allegedly attacked by a 58-year-old man she knew in Sydney on Saturday morning local time.
Mr Maladina was granted conditional bail pending a court appearance on July 11.
He said in a statement that he was “aware of the recent media reports” and was “cooperating with authorities to resolve the matter.”
“I understand the seriousness of this situation and the concerns it causes,” Mr Maradina said.
“As a public servant, I hold myself to high standards of conduct both personally and professionally.
“I want to make it clear that violence of any kind is unacceptable and I am committed to handling this situation with integrity and transparency.”
The woman who was allegedly attacked suffered injuries to her face, police said.
Mr Maradina became Papua New Guinea’s oil minister earlier this year and is a key adviser to President James Marape.
He is actively involved in plans to commercialize the country’s lucrative natural gas resources.
